Mowing-machine.



No. 727,644. f PATENT-Eli MAY 12,1903. J. W. LATIMER.

MOWING MACHINE.

, APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 16, 1902.

no MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' PATENIIED MAY 123 1903.

J. W. LATIMER.

MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

UNIT-En STATES PAT T Patented May 12,1903.

OFF-Ion.

JOHN w. ,LATIMER,.O F cn'roneo, 'rn mots', AssicNoR TO .INTEBVNPATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY, A .oonronnrionaon NEW. JE =RSEY.

' i MOWJ' e-M c H I,N EV.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ratent no. 727,644, dated ma 12, 1903.

Application filed January 16,-1902. Serial No. 89,967. (No model.)

To all whont-it mag/concerm Be it known that 1, JOHN W.'LAT1-MER,a citi-.

zen of the United States, residing at N0.-1141 Dunning street, Chicago, in theco-unty tr Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mowing- Machines, of which the following is aspecifi cation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has for its object to provide means whereby the finger-bar may be raised to an approximately vertical position from the operators seat and also means which permits the driving-gearing, and consequently the knife, to remain in mot-ion'regardless of the As here shown, mower of wellposition of the finger-bar. the parts are applied to a known construction.

In the drawings, Figurel is a plan view of so much of a mower as-nccessary to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is a -gra'ss side elevation of the parts shown in FigJ-l withthe traction-wheel removed. Fig. 3 is a'rea'r elevation of a portion of parts ofthe cutting apparatus and pitman, showing the means for connecting the latter to the knife. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the swivel-hinge on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, showing the means for pivoting the vibrating hinges. side elevation of the means for lifting the finger-bar. Fig. 6 is a rear view of a portion of the cutting apparatus, showing the fingerbar in a partially-folded position. Fig.7 is a View of the same as Fig. 6, but showing the finger-bar folded in a vertical position. Fig} 8 is a side elevation of the folding hand-lever;

and its connections in their positions when finger-bar is folded to its highest position. Fig. 9 is a plan View of the pitman and part of theknife, showing means for connecting the parts. Fig. v1O represents-the pitman and crank-wheel'and' showsthe manner of connecting them. Fig. 11 represents the lever and quadrant by which the cutting apparatus is controlled by the driver.

A represents a portion of the main frame of a mower of the Deering type, upon which the usual driving-gearing is mounted; B, one of the traction-wheels; C, thedrafttongue, and D the operators seat. Pivoted to the main frame A is the couplingfran1e E,

Fig. 5 is a on which is placed the swivel-hinge F. To said swivel-hinge is pivoted the shoe G, to

which in-turn-is secured the finger-bar G.

thus far described I claim no novelty in the partsillustrated', as'they enter into the construction of the well-known mowing-machine above referred to.

-As one part with the swivel-hinge F is the vertical post f. Upon the main frame A is secured the ratchet-quadrant h, to which is pivoted the tilting-lever H. The said tiltingleveris provided with the usual latch-handle said tilting-lever. By means of this lever the swivel-hinge and shoe, and consequently the finger-bar, may be tilted relative to the ground and there maintained in any position desired. The socket it provides means for adjusting the length of the rod h, and consequently the tilt.

-Upon a suitable stud f upon the swivelhinge F, preferably in one part therewith, is pivoted the gag-lever I. (See Fig. 3.) One end of said gag-lever is adapted to bear upon the lug g of the shoe G. The opposite endis adapted to be connected, by means of the link i, to the bell-crank-lever J, (see Fig. 2,) which is pivoted on a'stud formed on the bracket j, secured tothe draft-tongue C. To the main frame 'is' secured a second quadrant j, in which is pivoted the lifting foot-lever J, provided with a spring-actuated pawl adapted to engage a'notch in the quadrant. V Said bellcrank lever J is operated bythe foot-lever by means of the link 7' which-is connected to each. The spring J 2 is connected at its one end to the arm 9' of the bell-crank lever'J and at its other end to a lug on the main frame. By means of the threaded boltj the spring J may be adjusted to any required tension.

By means of the lifting foot-lever (shown in its two positions in Figs. 2 and 5) the cutting apparatus as a whole may be raised a sufficient height from the ground to pass small obstructions and turn at the corners of the field, yet remain substantially parallel therewith, the hinge in the shoe G being made rigid by means of the gag-lever I, so that the outer end of the cutting apparatus will be raised simultaneously with the inner end. The purpose of the spring J is to cause the cutting apparatus to move lightly over the ground and also aid the operator to raise the bar, as above stated.

Secured to the ti nger-bar i inmediately above the shoe G is the block 70, to which is pivoted the standard K. (Best shown in Figs. 6 and 7.) The short stop-arm 7c in one part with said standard K is adapted to rest upon a part of said block, and thus prevent the said standard from being drawn over stubbleward. The finger-bar folding chain L is attached to the upper end of the standard K. Upon the part c of the coupling-frame E is secured the saddle Z, upon a stud of which is journaled the sheave Z. Around this sheave the said folding chain passes to change its direction. Secured to the main frame is the quadrant 1 to which is pivoted the lever L To the arm Z of said lever L which is provided with the usual latch-handle and latch operated thereby adapted to engage the ratchets of the quadrant, is connected the end of the folding chain L through the rod 1*. The spring L is connected at one end to the bracket 6 secured to the draft-tongue, and at the other to the bent link Z, which in turn is pivoted to the arm Z of the lever L as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Said spring is adjusted to any desired degree of tension by means of the threaded bolt Z By means of this last-mentioned lever the finger-bar may be raised at its outer end only to permit it to pass obstructions. In Fig. (5 its folded position for passing rocks and stumps is shown. fold it further and maintain it in a practically vertical position, as when traveling on the road, the operator moves the lever L a sufficient additional distance to engage the hook portion 11 of the gag-lever I with the eye g of the shoe G. (Shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7.)

To disengage the gag-lever from the shoe, the finger-bar is tilted to its extreme rear position by means of the tilting-lever II, when the hooked portion 2' engages the couplingframe E and is raised out of the eye g. The finger-bar may then be lowered by reversing the operation of raising it. As the means for maintaining the cutting apparatus in this e1evation by means of the gag-lever and releasiug the same forms no part of this invention, it will not be further described. Reference is made, however, to the patent granted to J. F. Steward, No. 596,796, dated Januaryi, 1898. \rVhen the finger-bar is on the ground, the folding lever isin its extreme forward position. This carries the link Z to the point beyond the dead-center of the arm Z so that the force of the spring L becomes inefiective and has no influence on the outer end of the When it is desired to.

cutting apparatus. The spring L is located in a like manner to spring J but at its rear end the latter connects to lug under the axle by a screw-bolt. (Shown in Fig. 5.)

As one piece with the swivel-hinge F is the bracket M, secured to the standard f and supported at its rear end by the down-reaching member m, (see Fig. 4,) which is inserted in a hole provided in the studf. In the said bracket is pivoted the vibrating hanger M, which is provided at its lower end with the yoke m, adapted to support both ends of the pivot-bolt m". The pitman M journaled at one end bya ball-joint m upon the wrist-pin of the usual crank-wheel m, is pivotally supported at the other by the bolt on between the members of the forked yoke m. Pivoted in a like manner to the bolt m is one end of the pitman extension M the opposite end of which is connected to the reciprocating knife by a ball-joint m in the usual manner. In order that the cutting apparatus may be rocked without the pitman, which in this instance rocks therewith, producing a cramping pressure on the wrist-pin of the crankwheel, the pitman-box proper, on, is exteriorly spherical, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a mowing-machine, a gearing-frame, the coupling frame pivoted thereto, the swivel-hinge F, the cutting apparatus pivotally connected thereto, and having a reciprocating knife, a crank upon the gearing-frame, a pitman in two parts, and avibrating hanger pivoted to said swivel hinge by means of which said pitman is controlled at the junction of its two parts, all combined substantially as described.

2. In a mowing-machine, a gearing-frame having a crank-shaft journaled therein, and provided with a crank, a coupling-frame pivoted to the said gearing-frame and adapted to rise and fall at its grassward end, a fingerbar secured to said coupling-fra me by means permitting movement on two axes, whereby it may rock on a substantially horizontal axis transverse to the lateral advance of the machine and be folded upward at its outer end, a reciprocating knife, a jointed pitman connectin g said crank to said reciprocating knife, and a down-hanger, secured to a support upon the coupling-frame, and connected to the joint of said pitman, means for raising the cutting apparatus simultaneously at both ends, and means for raising the outer end independently of the inner, all combined substantially as described.

3. In a mowing-machine, a gearing-frame having a cranked shaft journaled therein, a coupling-frame,a swivel-hinge pivoted to said coupling-frame, the finger-bar pivoted to said swivel hinge, said parts having combined therewith the support M secured to the said swivel-hinge, a vibrating hanger pivoted in the said support, a reciprocating knife, said reciprocating knife connected to the crank of said crank-shaft by a two-part pitman, said two-part pitman connected to said vibrating hanger, substantially as described.

4. In a mowing-machine a gearing-frame, a coupling-frame pivoted thereto, a reciprocating cutting device pivotally connected to said coupling-frame,lifting mechanism adapted to raise and sustain the cutting apparatus at both inner and outer end simultaneously, combined with a separate lifting-lever and supplemental spring adapted to raise the outer end of the cutting apparatus to a higher position, at the will of the attendant, substantially as described.

5. In a mowing-machine a gearing-frame, a coupling-frame pivoted thereto, a reciprocating cutting device pivotally connected to said coupling-frame,lifting mechanism adapted to raise and sustain the cutting apparatus at both inner and outer end simultaneously, combined with a spring adapted to raise the outer end of the cutting apparatus to a higher position, at the will of the attendant, and a pivoted arm to which the spring is connected so that the line of draft of the spring shall cross the axis of movement of said arm and thus render the spring inoperative while the cutting apparatus is in working position, substantially as described.

6. In a mowing-machine a gearing-frame, a coupling-frame pivoted thereto, a reciprocating cutting device pivotally connected to said coupling-frame,lifting mechanism adapted to raise and sustain the cutting apparatus at both inner and outer end simultaneously, combined with a spring adapted to raise the outer end of the cutting apparatus to a higher position, at the will of the attendant, and a pivoted arm to which the spring is connected so that the line of draft of the spring shall cross the axis of movement of said arm and thus render the spring inoperative While the cutting apparatus is in working position, said arm having as one piece therewith a lever controllable by the operator, substantially as described.

7. Ina mowing-machine, the main gearing carriage, a crank-shaft mounted therein, the con pling-frame pivoted thereto,the cuttingap paratus pivoted to the said coupling-frame, a two part pitman connecting said crank to said cutting apparatus, a down-hanger controlling the said two-part pitman, said down-hanger clasping the two parts of said two-part pit= man where joined, substantially as described.

8. In a mowing-machine, a gearing-frame, a coupling-frame pivoted thereto, a swivel hinge F,a cutting apparatus pivotallyconnect ed thereto and havinga reciprocating knife, a crank upon the gearing-frame, a-pitman in two parts connecting the crank and reciprocating knife, and means supported by the swivel-hinge for supporting and guiding the pitman at the junction of its two parts, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN W. LATIMER.

Witnesses:

ALBIN R. PETERSON, EDW. BASSETT. 

